GeekSugar

The Bang & Olufsen Samsung Serenata

GeekSugar — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 08:00:34 -0800

High tech signature design company Bang & Olufsen has teamed up with Samsung to create this elegant yet simple cell phone, the Serenata.

Both companies worked together to create a phone that people would want to keep-a unique phone that is both timeless in design and technology. Hence the name Serene, which reflects
the core concepts of elegant simplicity and refined minimalism.

The Serenata incorporates a 240 x 240 touchscreen display, bluetooth, a loud dual speaker, a USB port and a SRS/WOW equalizer for exceptional sound output. It also comes with a matching docking station that can be used as a mini-laptop when the phone is turned 180 degrees. I saw it in person and I have to say it's like nothing else I've ever seen before. Pricing is said to be around $1600.

Luxurious Geek: Bang & Olufsen Serene Mobile

GeekSugar — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 07:00:49 -0700

The other night I was at a birthday dinner with my family and one of our friends whipped out her new Bang & Olufsen Serene Mobile. First and foremost, it's breathtaking. It's one of those phones that has its share of the usual features (SMS, MMS from the built-in camera, and email), but looks more like a piece of art.

It features a curved drop-shaped shell and soft-touch surface. When opened, the lower shell has a screen and the upper shell features a rotary-inspired keyboard. I was most shocked by how it's controlled. You just tap on the top of the shell and it opens like a slow car trunk. (Or, as they put it "opening and closing Serene involves a gentle move with your finger, which triggers a built-in motor so the shell opens slowly and gracefully.) It doesn't seem practical for e-mail or web access - mostly because it's so small - but it sure is beautiful.

The phone is compatible with TMobile & Cingular, but at $1,275 it's more than twice the cost of the iPhone.

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The Ritz-Carlton in Naples, FL Goes High-Tech

GeekSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:05:09 -0700

I know how much you love a good gadget-pimped hotel, which is why I thought I'd share the news about The Ritz-Carlton in Naples, FL getting a total-teched out section of the hotel called the Vue lounge - Vue standing for (virtual user experience). Not your typical hotel gaming room that often features a console and a TV, nope, the Vue lounge boasts Mac stations, iPod docks, a 63-inch LCD TV with a Blu-ray player, a Bang and Olufsen surround sound system, Guitar Hero, Rock Band, a Nintendo Wii, PlayStation, XBox 360 and more. They even host Wii fitness classes and bowling tournaments, which are all complimentary to resort guests. I guess if you've got kids, or are an avid gamer, or even if you want to take some of these games for a test drive, this hotel may be worth looking at.

Oscar Worthy-Gadgets: The Devil Wears Prada Phones

GeekSugar — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 07:00:40 -0800

Fab may have been checking out the hot messenger bag by La Rue that Andy carries in The Devil Wears Prada, but my eyes were locked on the Sidekicks that seemed to sneak into every single street scene in the movie. In fact, I even noticed a movie goof: At the end of the movie when Miranda, played by Meryl Streep, calls Andy, played by Anne Hathaway, in Paris, Andy looks at her T-mobile Sidekick and it's ringing. The phone shows Miranda's name and under it, it says, "Connecting." For it to say that, Andy would have had to call Miranda and her phone wouldn't have been ringing.

IMDB clued me in to another Sidekick blunder: In one scene, Andy throws her Sidekick into the fountain, she is holding it in one hand. The reverse shot of the face of the Sidekick shows her holding it with both hands. Still, Anne, Meryl and Emily Blunt looked smashing in the whole movie and their Sidekicks were just as flashy. For more dangerously fashionable Prada pictures and a link to check out the pretty blue Bang and Olufsen phone from the film, just read more

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The trendy BeoCom 2 Bang and Olufsen phone made its way into the scene where Andy meets her boyfriend and their two friends at a bar and shares some of her trendy Vogue give-aways with them. You can buy one online for $850, which in my world is a little much for a phone, but if you're totally Vogue, go for it!

Have you filled out your Oscar ballot? The winner will score a fabulous Prada bag, runners-up will get $50 to $500 gift cards Neiman Marcus, Sephora and The Apple Store. Get your votes in! Good luck! For official rules click here.

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Daily Tech: Speedo's Innovative Yet Controversial LZR Racer

GeekSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:00:30 -0700

All eyes are on Speedo's ultrabuoyant LZR Racer swimsuit during this year's Summer Olympics as a high percentage of athletes wearing the suit are breaking world records. - Engadget
Check out all the movie titles that are making their way to Blu-Ray format this week. - Crave
Gold winner of the men's 100m breaststroke, Japanese Olympic swimmer Kosuke Kitajima said that playing Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games helped him train for his big win! - Kotaku
Love Maloo laptop sleeves? Well the fabulous felt cases are now available in miniature sizes for your iPhone. Keeping your phone scratch free and stylish at the same time! - Unplggd
The luxurious Mercedes-AMG motorcar will be outfitted with Bang and Olufsen speakers, which are already in high-end Audis. - CrunchGear
Last day! Be sure to log into your TeamSugar account for your chances to win a white Nintendo DS Lite and a Space Chimps game! - geeksugar

Geeks We Love: Om Malik of GigaOM

GeekSugar — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 10:08:28 -0800

Shows like Beauty and the Geek give male geeks a bad rep. I have news for you folks, not all geeks think pocket-protectors and worn corduroy pants are trendy. In fact, I know plenty of eligible geeky bachelors that showcase the very best of geekiness: smarts, passion, chic clothing, success in their field and the ability to program your TiVo, computer or Blackberry when you’re not in the mood. In an effort to celebrate this month of love, I have put together a series of interviews with some of the most interesting geeky bachelors I know.

Om Malik, who is the founder of GigaOmniMedia, Inc. and executive editor of GigaOM.com, a popular tech blog that offers news, analysis and opinions on topics ranging from broadband to online games and Web 2.0, is the epitome of geek chic. He just happens to love clothes as much as he does gadgets – and has an awe-inspiring gadget collection and closet to prove it! For the full interview with Om, read more

GS: How did you get into the tech world?
Om: I have dreamed of being a journalist all my life, ever since I was a kid. I started as a rookie reporter at a teen magazine, The Weekly Sun in New Delhi, India.

GS: What’s the geekiest thing about yourself?
Om: I often brag about the total computing power in my apartment, and proud of the fact that have a terabyte of data around the house.

GS: What you are looking for in a significant other?
Om: Intelligence, kindness and humor. Someone who I can look at from the corner of my eye and be pleased as punch that I am her guy! Virginia Madsen, except for real!

GS: What are your Top 5 favorite gadgets?
Om: MacBook Pro, Nokia e70, Sonos Music System, iPod Nano, and my LCD TV.

GS: What are the top 5 luxury gadgets you really want?
Om: Sony Bravia LCD TV (50 inch model), iPhone, Aston Martin, The Prada Phone and Bang & Olufsen phone.

GS: Your first computer was a…
Om: A no name laptop with Windows 3.1. Yuck!

GS: What are your favorite websites?
Om: PopSugar, Gawker, TorrentFreak, WebWorkerDaily and Fark.

GS: Your line of work means you are exposed to more gadgets and tech news than your average citizen (and blogger) how do you decide what is relevant or necessary?
Om: I have a lot of friends who are not really interested in technology. I hand them the device, and then watch how they react. If they like it or are intrigued by it, it is something worth paying attention to. Otherwise, I go for elegance, simplicity and intuitiveness of the gadget.

GS: How do you feel about people calling you a “geek?” I suppose I should first ask, have you ever been called a "geek?"
Om: Not to my face, but I am sure people say that all the time.

GS: What do you consider to be your greatest contribution to the tech/blog industry – don’t be modest.
Om: I get to tell the greatest story to be ever told – technology – that’s as good as it gets.

GS: How many hours do you spend online a day?
Om: I am connected all the time, except when I am sleeping.

GS: What is one geeky habit you’re trying to quit?
Om: Instant messaging – I hate the sound iChat makes.

GS: What makes you an eligible geeky bachelor?
Om: I like clothes and the good life as much as I like gadgets. I think I am kind, thoughtful and thanks to my training as a writer, I do have the ability to listen and pay attention.

GS: Describe your ideal date.
Om: I have not been on one yet. If you have expectations, then you are going to be disappointed. If you are disappointed then even the best date can never be an ideal date. That said, I want a date of thousand surprises, little ones, that make every minute worth remembering.

GS: What do you look for in a significant other?
Om: She should take as much interest in men’s shoes as she does in Jimmy Choo’s.

GS: Tell me more about GigaOm!
Om: GigaOM started off as a personal blog five years ago, but since then has become a daily chronicle of the technology industry. I left my job at Business 2.0 in June 2006, raised venture capital and turned it into a little media company. Think of us as rapidly aging former yuppie brother of Sugar Publishing.
My inspiration is curiosity and the desire to learn new things every day. As a kid my grandfather used to warn me to not mistake education for a finite process. My profession is my education, my motivation. My writing is a mix of analysis, sarcasm, humor and plain old news reporting.

Editor’s Note: Before launching his own publishing venture, Om was a senior writer for Business 2.0 magazine covering telecom and broadband stories. His site, GigaOM.com is now ranked in the top 100 IT news sites by Hitwise, an Internet tracking service and is among the top 50 blogs as ranked by Technorati, and part of C/Net 100 Most Influential Blogs.

Want more Om? Check out GigaOM.com. Given Om’s flair for fashion you may have to act fast to beat FabSugar to the punch!

Photos courtesy of Thomas Hawk